FOCUS
WE
SAID SO
BUT NOONE
LISTENED
25 May 2022, ZimLive reports that, according to the Grain Millers
Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), Zimbabwe will import 400,000 tonnes
of white maize from Zambia and Malawi as the country battles yet
another bout of food insecurity.
The irony is that the country is importing from its neighbours, which
have the same climatic and soil profile conditions.
The importation is despite the government of Zimbabwe having run
sustained agricultural support programmes such as Command
Agriculture and Pfumvudza.
Late last year, The Herald newspaper dutifully reported that President
Mnangagwa’s administration had introduced transformational measures
in the agricultural sector anchored at achieving food security in the
country and a return to self-sufficiency.
The Herald went on to state that the measures included, among other
things, the Command Agriculture - contract farming aimed at
supporting local farmers, the Pfumvudza concept - a concept of
increased production with minimum resources as well as putting
emphasis on climate proofing.
ZPP, standing to its true mandate of being a watchdog, continued to
monitor the agriculture support mechanisms and noted quite a number
of disturbing developments, which it put forward for consideration by
government.
In November 2021, ZPP recorded cases of politicisation of Pfumvudza
inputs aid where there was a deliberate and systematic process of sidelining perceived or real supporters of opposition political parties from
benefitting from a government scheme that is supposed to benefit
everyone regardless of their political affiliation.
In some cases, the distribution of the maize and fertilizer was done
Nicodemously.
In direct contravention of the Constitution, Zanu PF and government
officials and local leaders charged with the distribution of inputs
conducted themselves in an openly partisan manner, and showed little
regard for the respect of the fundamental value of equality and dignity
for all.
8